STEM workshop in biochemistry hosts area seventh graders

The Science, Technology, Engineering, Math workshop on Tuesday evening and Wednesday midday imparted knowledge by hands-on techniques in the subject of biochemistry.

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By Bette McFarren

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By Bette McFarren

Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM

By Bette McFarren
Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM

The Science, Technology, Engineering, Math workshop on Tuesday evening and Wednesday midday imparted knowledge by hands-on techniques in the subject of biochemistry. Tuesday night's display was designed for the entire community, but the Wednesday events were by invitation to the seventh graders from La Junta, Manzanola, Fowler, Rocky Ford and Swink. Olney Springs was invited but unable to attend because of testing, said coordinator Yolanda Jaramillo. Some eighth graders were also included.

The Swink group observed was quite small, because of the cancellation, but other groups contained about a hundred students each, said the college coordinators.

Annita Frant, originally from Denmark, was the presenter for Colorado University Outreach.

Frant conducted an experiment showing the effect of alcohol on a chicken liver, illustrating, among other things, that liver is hardened by alcohol, causing it to become nonfunctional and therefore ineffective in cleansing the blood of impurities. She pointed out the many needs for chemistry in our society, encouraging the study of chemistry to the students. Water must have a pH of 7 to be drinkable. "Is there anything added to your drinking water?" she asked, after pointing out some of our farmland is covered with alkaline deposits.

She illustrated bioluminescence with a slide of a lightning bug, common in the eastern part of the U.S. Other instances of bioluminescence were supplied by the students and the instructor: jellyfish, angler fish. Also discussed was the chameleon, with its color-change protective cover, and moths, which blend into their surroundings.

Two students were invited to take part in an experiment. Two Erlenmeyer flasks had been filled with a fluid indicator that was blue. When carbon dioxide from the students' breath was blown into the flask, the liquid turned green, indicating the presence of oxygen.

Frant urged the students to consider a career in science: "There are many needs now, such as clean water, but also many occupations that don't even exist yet."